The clink
Slang Term
BritishAmerican
★★★☆☆ Moderate
Casual
Meaning: Prison or jail.
监狱,牢房。
Prisión o cárcel.
刑務所、拘置所。
감옥, 교도소.
Slang for prison—from the Clink Prison that stood in Southwark, London from the 12th to 18th century.
监狱的俚语——源自12世纪至18世纪位于伦敦南华克的克林克监狱。
Argot para referirse a la prisión, derivado de la prisión de Clink que existió en Southwark, Londres, del siglo XII al XVIII.
刑務所のスラング。12世紀から18世紀までロンドンのサザークにあったクリンク刑務所に由来する。
감옥을 뜻하는 속어—12세기부터 18세기까지 런던 서더크에 있었던 클링크 감옥에서 유래.
Literal meaning: Prison
Examples
- He ended up in the clink for six months. 他最后蹲了六个月牢Acabó en el trullo seis meses彼は6ヶ月刑務所に入ることになった그는 결국 6개월간 감옥에 들어갔다.
- One more arrest and you'll be in the clink. 再被抓一次你就得进去了Una detención más y acabas en chironaもう一回逮捕されたらムショ行きだぞ한 번만 더 체포되면 감옥행이다.
- Spent three years in the clink. 在里面待了三年Pasó tres años a la sombra3年間ムショにいた3년간 감옥에 있었다.
Pronunciation
/klɪŋk/
Usage Guide
Context: imprisonment, jail, punishment
Tone: casual, slightly humorous
✓ Do Say
- In the clink.在牢里En el trulloムショの中감옥에 들어갔다.
- Ended up in the clink.最后进去了Acabó en chironaムショ行きになった결국 감옥행이 되었다.
- Time in the clink.蹲牢的时间Tiempo a la sombraムショでの時間감옥 생활.
✗ Don't Say
- In prisonIn prison(在监狱里)In prison(En prisión)In prison(刑務所に)교도소에
- In jailIn jail(在拘留所里)In jail(En la cárcel)In jail(拘置所に)감옥에
Common Mistakes
- Historical London origin
- Also possibly from the clink of chains
Origin & History
From the Clink Prison in Southwark, London, one of England's oldest prisons.
Etymology: From London's Clink Prison, 12th-18th century
First recorded: 16th century
Cultural Context
Era: 16th century to present
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: British crime fiction; The Clink Prison Museum in London
Regional notes: British origin, also used in American English.
Variations
The clinkIn the clinkIn clink
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